Tell me your top Criterion recommendations
 

I've currently been trying to expand my film interests; delving further into important classics, foreign films, and obscure titles that have slipped under my radar. I figure that Criterion is a great way to help.

So I'd like to hear your top 10 or so Criterions, or just those that are the most widely regarded as the "best" that I should have in my collection. I'm mostly concerned with the movie itself more than the features/quality (since I know there are few, if any "bad" Criterion discs.) I'm interested in all genres.

And just so you know not to list them, here are the Criterions I own:

Armageddon
Brazil: remastered
Clean, Shaven
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
The Hidden Fortress
M
Man Bites Dog
Naked
The Rock
The Royal Tenenbaums
Sanjuro
Seven Samurai (original and three disc)
The Silence of the Lambs
The Vanishing
Yojimbo

Small movie that twangs all the right cords...A Canterbury Tale. Look it up!

Phil

O..k. It's awesome that you want to expand for film watching (yay!) but Criterion does such a huge variety of films it's kind of hard to recommend something based on the label. Especially not knowing if their are any particular kinds of movies you hate. Still, as someone who loves & watches a lot of "foreign" and classic films I will share my top 10 in no particular order:) Happy viewing!

1. High and Low- since you obviously dig Kurosawa, check out this amazing film noir.
2. Wages of Fear- you seem to like horror and thrillers- this is not a horror film per se, but one of the most knuckle-whitening films you'll ever see. Don't let the slow beginning scare you away- this is a masterpiece.
3. The Grand Illusion- an amazing, amazing film. I see that you own 'Shawshank', this is kind of the king of prison escape films (I'll also cheat and highly recommend Le Trou, in the same vein.)
4. The Third Man- an extremely fun & clever murder/crime mystery, I've yet to meet a person that doesn't love this. You may want to wait for the upcoming special edition, however.
5. Sullivan's Travels- you can't go wrong with Preston Sturges (also check out 6. The Lady Eve, one of my favorites) This movie is hilarious, touching and somehow combines slapstick and emotional truth flawlessly.
7. Shoot the Piano Player- a genius crime/tragic romance film that also maganes to be a lot of fun.
8. La Strada- my favorite Fellini (heck, I was the main character last Halloween!) a beautiful film and a great introduction to the director. Afterward I'd also watch 9. 8 1/2.
10. Pickup On South Street- Sam Fuller RULES, and this red paranoia noir is tough perfection.

Equinox if you love scifi low budgters.

General Idi Amin Dada if yu love docs or Last King of Scotland.

Seven Samurai if you think you love cinema.

The 400 Blows

Personal Favorites:

I return to these titles more than any others in the collection.

1. 8 1/2 (utterly essential)
2. L'avventura
3. The Rules of the Game (gets better with each viewing)
4. The Orphic Trilogy (esp. Orpheus)
5. Au hasard Balthazar
6. The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (I have a hard time picking only one Michael Powell film. They are all great.)
7. The Seventh Seal
8. My Night at Maud's
9. The 400 Blows
10. Sullivan's Travels


Wild Cards: Naked Lunch, Videodrome, The Complete Mr. Arkadin
All three are great films, but some may find them too idiosyncratic.

I have viewed every title except Gate of Flesh and Hands over the City so I cannot speak to those two titles.
I would have recommended Notorious in the top ten if it was in print.

Additional Resources:

Based on the most recent comprehensive ranking conducted for the They Shoot Pictures, Don't They list, these were the ten highest ranked films that are part of the Criterion Collection:

2. The Rules of the Game
5. 8 1/2
6. Seven Samurai
8. Tokyo Story
14. The Passion of Joan of Arc
16. Rashomon
17. Bicycle Thieves
20. The Third Man
26. Grand Illusion
31. L'aaventura


http://www.theyshootpictures.com/gf1000_top100films.htm


The ten highest ranked Criterion titles from the combined 2002 Sight and Sound Poll are:

4. The Rules of the Game
5. 8 1/2
7. Tokyo Story
8. Seven Samurai
9. Rashomon
15(t). Bicycle Thieves
15(t). The Passion of Joan of Arc
18. L'avventura
21. Jules et Jim
27. Fanny and Alexander


http://www.bfi.org.uk/sightandsound/topten/

Au Hasard Balthzar, of course, how could I forget!!!

My favorite Criterions to date:

Ran
Dazed and Confused
Lord of the Flies
Rashomon
Branded to Kill
In the Mood for Love
Hoop Dreams

A few off the top of my head that haven't been mentioned-

Complete Mr. Arkadin
Insomnia
Killers-Double Feature
Kagemusha

I realized my opinion of the 10 best films Criterion has released is different from my 10 favorite Criterions right now, but here goes: (not including any you own)

The Passion of Joan of Arc
The Third Man
400 Blows
The Seventh Seal
Wages of Fear
Notorious
Divorce Italian Style
Rashomon
La Strada
Bicycle Thieves

The Devil and Daniel Webster

Thanks for the replies. I already had a bunch of these on my Netflix queue. In attempting to add the rest, I came to the realization that I Netflix only allows 500 movies on your queue at any given time... Guess I need to start watchin'!

A few additional titles that haven't been mentioned:
Ghost/Spirit tales......Ugetsu, Kwaidan (absolutely breathtaking visuals), Rashomon, Onibaba.

Pandora's Box, The Battle Of Algiers (still being used as a textbook case study at the Pentagon), Mon Oncle, Black Orpheus, L'avventura.

here's some from the ones I've seen in no real order, I'm not listing some that may well be worth watching as I havent yet got to them (eg 8 1/2) :

The 400 Blows
Au Revoir Les Enfants
The Bad Sleep Well
Le Cercle Rouge
The Children of Paradise
Diabolique
Elevator to the Gallows
Fallen Idol
Hiroshima Mon Amour
The Killers
Lacombe Lucien
The Leopard
Notorious
Ran
The Seventh Seal
Solaris
Spirit of the Beehive
The Third Man (re-release coming though)
Wages of Fear
Winter Light

I love my Criterion DVDs, although My Criterion LDs are probably even better (Carrie, Taxi Driver, sex.lies,and videotape, Raging Bull, to name a few)

But since we're talking DVD, my favorites as of now are:

Playtime
Brazil
The Man Who Fell to Earth
The 39 Steps
Walkabout
Dazed and Confused
Short Cuts
Hard Boiled
Naked Lunch
Carnival of Souls
Traffic

Last Temptation of Christ, Videodrome, and Naked Lunch.

Le Trou - Most gripping movie EVER!

This is a very bias opinion but Dazed and Confused!

my ten recommendations:

1. Picnic at Hanging Rock
2. The 400 Blows (The Adventures of Antoine Doinel)
3. In the Mood for Love
4. Andrei Rublev
5. The Last Temptation of Christ
6. The Lady Eve / Sullivan's Travels
7. Rushmore
8. 8 1/2
9. Fanny and Alexander box set
10. The Double Life of Veronique

what no love for 'Monty Python's The Life of Brian' what fun supplements!

Good Burger

but seriously Life of Brian is the only one not on your list that I'd suggest

- Mouchette
- Pickpocket
- Wild Strawberries
- Ratcatcher
- George Washington
- My Life as A Dog
- Eyes Without a Face

this just reminds me I have to watch 'Viridiana' the box set: 'Paul Robeson: Portraits of the Artist' and 'The Double Life of Veronique'

In the Mood for Love
8 1/2

Insomnia

Ugetsu, the film is amazing. Highly recommended!

We think quite alike! I would've quickly recommend these same titles if you hadn't already. :) I'd personally substitute Au Hasard or Diary of a Country Priest for Mouchette, though.

Additionally:

Schizopolis (I think this may be one of the best purchases ever)
The Cranes Are Flying
I Fidanzati
The Passion of Joan of Arc
For All Mankind
Tokyo Olympiad
The Killers (double feature)
The Last Wave
Rebecca
Cassavetes: Five Films (worth the price for Woman Under the Influence alone!)

cool! :)

in my order:
Au Hasard Balthazar
Pickpocket
Mouchette
Diary of a Country Priest

I'm really lovin' this thread, great recommendations and alot getting added to my Amazon wish list.

The Rules of the Game is well worth the money. Excellent transfer, great extras. One of the best DVDs I own.

I've borrowed the new Seven Samurai from a student. That's a damned impressive release.

My personal top ten, in no particular order:

Jules and Jim
Slacker
Peeping Tom
Carnival of Souls
Pandora's Box
Haxan
M
Night and the City
Le Samourai
Unfaithfully Yours

Great supplements on Battle of Algiers and Short Cuts as well.

Le Samurai - Cool film noir classic.

OP, looks like we're in the same boat. I'm also looking to "expand my horizons", and my Criterion collection almost exactly mirrors yours.

One that I would recommend skipping is "Withnail and I". Maybe I'll try it again, but wow, that was impossible to get into for me.

Thanks to all for the suggestions.

Eisenstein : The Sound Years
Alphaville
Taste of Cherry
Young Torless
That Obscure Object of Desire
Throne of Blood
Youth of the Beast
The Sword of Doom
Ali: Fear Eats the Soul
Fists in the Pocket
The Nights of Cabiria
The Tin Drum
Wild Strawberries
Through A Glass Darkly
Cries & Whispers
Sisters
Coup de Torchon
Harakiri
The Lost Honor of Katharina Blum

I haven't seen as many of these films as some people, but here are some Criterions I own and wouldn't hesitate to recommend:

Beauty and the Beast
Eyes Without a Face
The Double Life of Veronique
Ran (especially since you seem to like Kurosawa)
Pandora's Box
The Spirit of the Beehive (especially if you liked Pan's Labyrinth)
Videodrome (rather ahead of its time, plus the packaging is great)
Picnic At Hanging Rock (though you can get an import that's anamorphic)
In the Mood for Love (gorgeous to look at)
Notorious (a terrific film, but sadly OOP)
Charade (a "fun" movie, might be a nice break from all these deadly serious films)

My personal favorite criterions are
Do the Right Thing
Hopscotch
Straw Dogs
This is Spinal Tap
Dazed and Confused
Hoop Dreams
Ikiru
Monteray Pop Festival
Night and Fog
Night to Remember

Of the Criterions I own, these are the ones I've watched more than once or twice:

Rififi
Bob Le Flambeur
Wages Of Fear
Eyes Without A Face
Coup De Torchon
Gimme Shelter
Elevator To The Gallows
M
Testament Of Dr. Mabuse
The Bank Dick
The Third Man
Black Narcissus
Ran
Seven Samurai
Jigoku
Unfaithfully Yours
Sullivan's Travels

Rules of the Game
Eric Rohmer's Six Moral Tales
The Antoine Doinel Boxset
L'Eclisse
Late Spring
The Double Life of Veronique
Au Hasard Balthazar
Masculin-Feminin
Le Samourai
Contempt

I'll take a different approach, and recommend these based on what I can gather from your DVDAF link:

1. 8 ½ - You gave Adaptation four stars out of four. It seems that you fell as deeply in love with that movie as I did. As such, you should definitely give this one a shot. Fellini does with directing what Kaufman did with screenwriting.

2. Rashomon - You have four Kurosawa titles already. This one, my favorite of his films, should tickle your fancy. Note that in plot and structure, it's somewhat similar to Run Lola Run, a film you rewarded with three and a half stars.

3. Ikiru - Another wonderful film, and a definite change of pace from the Kurosawa films you've been exposed to thus far. Ikiru (based on a Tolstoy novella) is a beautiful, deliberately paced exploration of love, life, and death. After four samurai films, if you want to begin to see the astounding versitility in Kurosawa's filmography, this one would be a great place to start.

4. Insomnia - You own the Chris Nolan version, and gave it three and a half stars. While Insomnia is my least favorite of Nolan's films, I can and will enthusiastically recommend the Skjoldbjærg version. A compelling thriller in a time when most are merely predictable and formulaic, the original is far more worthy than the remake.

5. The Last Temptation of Christ - You have a handful of Scorsese films in your collection, and not one of them has less than three stars. Only seems reasonable that you give this one, one of his more underrated (yet still utterly impressive) efforts a shot.

6. Rushmore - Three and a half stars for Wes Anderson's "The Royal Tenenbaums" virtually guarantees that this will end up being a good recommendation. I'll also cheat and recommend The Life Aquatic to round out Anderson's Criterion trio.

7. Spartacus - You own five Kubrick films. Four of them have perfect four of four ratings, and the fifth is only a half a star away from making it a clean sweep. Check out this title to see Kubrick at the controls of an epic period piece.

8. Wild Strawberries, The Seventh Seal - You need to give Ingmar Bergman a shot, and these two masterpieces are as good a place to start as any.

9. Hoop Dreams, Night and Fog - A bit more cheating brings this list to thirteen titles in all, but these two documentaries are both amazing in their own right, and finish 1-2 in my 'favorite documentaries' list.

10. The Rules of the Game - Widely regarded as one of, if not the single greatest film ever made. Whether you agree or not, one thing is for sure: this is essential cinema.

Thanks for the very well thought out and researched reply! I have seen Rashomon, Rushmore, and The Seventh Seal and loved all of them. I have the rest of your suggestions on my Netflix queue. Thanks.

if you like kurosawa, try ikiru, it is my favorite of his by far...

My recommended titles, although they may overlap with ones you have. High recommendations bolded:

Ali: Fear Eats the Soul & All That Heaven Allows (the first is a remake of the second)
Diabolique
Do the Right Thing
Fat Girl
General Idi Amin Dada: A Self Portrait
The Harder They Come
Heaven Can Wait
In the Mood for Love
The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou
The Long Good Friday
M
Man Bites Dog
Royal Tenenbaums
Rushmore
Seven Samurai
Silence of the Lambs
The Vanishing
Wages of Fear